Catawba College hosts National Geographic Explorer’s presentation on sustainability

03/20/18 by Guest Writer

EDITOR’S
NOTE: This story by Spencer Dixon appeared in the November 21, 2017, issue of
the Salisbury Post.

SALISBURY — The Center for the
Environment partnered with Catawba College’s department of environmental
sustainability to host National Geographic Explorer T.H. Culhane’s presentation
“Synergies and System Thinking in the Service of Sustainability” on Monday
night.

Culhane spoke about biogas and his experience
creating biodigesters around the world.

Biogas is the natural gas created from
garbage and human waste through a biodigester to create a renewable and
sustainable power source.

The biogas initiative centers on the idea
that there is no such thing as waste.

“Waste is a verb or adjective but not a noun
because we can use everything considered waste for a greater purpose,” said
Culhane.

To begin, Culhane discussed how he doesn’t
only study biodigesters and biogas; he uses them in his everyday life.

Beginning in 1999 at an apartment in Los
Angeles through his current 40-foot camper home, Culhane strives to live “off
the grid” by eliminating his reliance on fossil fuel. He and his wife use
biogas to cook, to power the RV, and to fertilize their garden.

In their lives, nothing goes to waste because
all the waste and food scraps they produce go directly back into the
biodigester.

Biodigesters can be made from everyday
materials such as pickle barrels. The easy construction allowed Culhane to take
his research internationally from Cairo to Mexico, establishing biodigesters in
impoverished urban areas.

Biodigesters not only produce power, but they
can create fertilizer as well. According to Culhane, biodigester-produced
fertilizer can help establish peace by eliminating conflict over arable land.

“Biodigesters are a nexus of peace between
Palestine, Israel and Jordan because of the common enemy of waste,” he said.

Even though other natural energy sources such
as water, wind, and solar exist, Culhane believes biogas is “the missing piece
of sustainability” because it can function as a baseline power source that can
be supplemented by other renewable sources.

Culhane did more than speak during his visit.
He worked with Catawba faculty and students to create the first biodigester in
North Carolina in the greenhouse beside the Center for the Environment.

On his trip to Catawba, Culhane said, “I see
such heart and vision in the community that I feel plugged into the future.”

Anyone interested in learning more on biogas
and biodigesters can visit solarcities.eu for
information as well as a step-by-step guide to making a biodigester for
the home.